Keto Meal Recipes
Keto Asian Meatballs with Thai Basil Sauce
All right. Let’s talk about floral Thai basil flavor. Let’s talk spicy ginger. Let’s talk tangy pickled onions. Wait. Enough talk! Let’s make and eat these tender and tasty Asian-style meatballs!
Recipe by: Anne Aobadia | Photo by Emma Shevtzoff
Prep/Cooking Time: 25 + 15 min | Medium | 4 Servings
Ingredients
Pickled onion salad
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar
• 2 tbsp water
• ½ tsp salt
• 28 g (65 ml) scallions, thinly sliced
• 1 red chili pepper, thinly sliced, width-wise
Thai basil sauce
• 180 ml mayonnaise
• 55 g radishes, finely chopped
• 1 tbsp fresh Thai basil, finely chopped
• salt and pepper, to taste
Meatballs
• 550 g ground pork
• ½ (55 g) yellow onion, minced
• 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
• 1 tbsp fish sauce
• 1 tsp ground black pepper
• 60 ml butter or coconut oil, for frying
Sautéed Cabbage
• 550 g green cabbage, finely shredded, or sliced
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp ground black pepper
• 55 g butter or coconut oil, for sautéing
Instructions
1. Pre-heat the oven to 200°F (100°C).
Pickled onion salad
1. In a small bowl, whisk together the rice vinegar, water, and salt. Add the scallions and chili pepper. Mix together, and set aside.
Thai basil sauce
1. Mix the mayonnaise, Thai basil, and radishes together in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper, and set aside.
Meatballs
1. In a large bowl, gently mix together the meatball ingredients. Moisten hands with water, and shape into 1″ (2.5 cm) balls, making about 8 meatballs per serving.
2. Melt the butter or coconut oil in a large frying pan, over medium heat. Fry the meatballs for about 7 – 10 minutes, or until cooked through, and golden brown. Place in an oven-proof dish, cover with foil and move to the oven to keep warm.
Sautéed Cabbage
1. Using the same pan, melt the butter or coconut oil over medium-high heat. Add the shredded cabbage, salt, and pepper. Sautée until lightly browned, and tender.
2. Place the cabbage on each plate, top with meatballs, and serve with the Thai basil sauce and pickled onions, on the side.
Tips
Switch it up: The Asian flavors in these versatile meatballs taste just as good with ground poultry, whether chicken or turkey – both work beautifully. Make extra! You can freeze the meatballs for up to 3 months, so leftovers won’t go to waste.